President Obama and his administration praised a pro-immigration reform group that is publicly fasting in Washington, D.C. in an effort to persuade Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill. 

The first lady also put her support behind the group, according to USA Today. 

Michelle Obama tweeted on Tuesday: "As families begin to gather for Thanksgiving, I'm thinking of the brave #Fast4Families immigration reform advocates. We're with you. -mo."

President Obama mentioned the group during his speech about immigration this week in San Francisco. He said, "Right now, I'm seeing brave advocates who have been fasting for two weeks in the shadow of the Capitol, sacrificing themselves in an effort to get Congress to act."

Obama also singled out one of the leaders of the fast, Eliseo Medina, the internal secretary-treasurer of the Serve Employees International Union, as well as other fasters. 

Vice President Joe Biden also visited the Fast for Families site at the National Mall, in addition to Obama aides Valerie Jarrett and Cecilia Munoz. 

House Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, activist Gloria Steinem and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have also visited the activists. 

The Fast for Families movement is set up in tents on the National Mall. They have abstained from all food since Nov. 12, and spend their days praying and meeting with activists and lawmakers, according to The New York Daily News. 

"I want them to know we hear you," the president said in his speech. "We're with you. The whole country hears you."